A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect Thursday and President Donald Trump said the next meeting between the US and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end.
Trump said Iran had offered not to possess nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran’s nuclear ambitions were a sticking point at talks in Islamabad last weekend.
“We’re going to see what happens. But I think we’re very close to making a deal with Iran,” he told reporters outside the White House. Hours later at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Trump went further, saying the war “should be ending pretty soon.”
The war with Iran, which began on 28 February with a US-Israeli attack, has killed thousands and sent oil prices surging, creating a major political headache for the US President.
If the Lebanon ceasefire clears the way for a broader peace deal with Iran, it would be a significant win for the Trump administration, which has struggled so far to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.
US-Israel and Iran war | Live updates
11.50 am: UN welcomes Lebanon ceasefire
United Nations’ Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement that he welcomes the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and hopes it will “pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict”. He also urged all sides to comply with international law.
While the world celebrates the ceasefire’s announcement, Lebanon local media is reporting that Israeli forces have fired a machine gun and an artillery shell towards an ambulance team affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority in Kunin, south of the country. There’s no independent confirmation.
11.45 am: ‘Progress’ on thorny issues between US, Iran
Two Iranian sources told news agency Reuters there were signs of a compromise emerging on Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium stockpile. Iran, they said, was considering parting with some of its stockpile, but not all, out of the country. It had earlier refused to do so.
A diplomatic source said that Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, who has been a key mediator in talks between the two sides and was in Tehran Wednesday, had managed to get a breakthrough on “sticky issues”.
Nonetheless, the issue over Iran’s nuclear programme has not been resolved.
In return, a Pakistani security source told Reuters that Washington was offering to lift sanctions and unfreeze billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian assets to secure a deal. But, the source added, Iran would open the Strait of Hormuz only if a permanent ceasefire is reached and there are United Nations guarantees that the US and Israel will not attack again in the future.
11.00 am: Overnight recap
- The Lebanon ceasefire began at midnight local time, but Iran-backed Hezbollah continued firing rockets into northern Israel while Tel Aviv continued shelling too.
- BBC reported that Israel was taken by surprise on the ceasefire announcement.An Israeli news outlet described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convening a security cabinet meeting with just five minutes’ notice, shortly before the ceasefire announcement was made. Leaks from that meeting say ministers were not given a vote on the ceasefire, it said.
- Israel insists its troops will remain in southern Lebanon. Iran welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, saying it was part of an understanding reached with the US and mediated by Pakistan, Iranian media reported, citing a statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson. But Iran has also sought a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
- Hezbollah released a statement on military operations against Israel throughout Thursday, which showed that its last attack was ten minutes before the ceasefire was effected. Trump later issued a social media post urging Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire. “I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!” he said.
10.00 am: Trump says he may go to Islamabad
Trump said Thursday that if a deal with Iran to conclude the war is reached and signed in Islamabad, he might go.
“If a deal is signed in Islamabad I may go,” Trump said. “They want me.” He also said without providing evidence that Iran has agreed to give up the enriched uranium believed buried from US-Israeli airstrikes last year.
Source: Reuters